Aelyx - 08
I stalked along the Street of Silk, a scowl on my face. Yesterday had been an object lesson in the way that even little details were important. Despite the King's effusive insistence that I visit King's Landing months prior in the aftermath of the Vhagar incident, the reception I received upon arrival had been decidedly chilly. It was unsurprisingly my father's fault. I'd completely forgotten that Visery's had been most displeased with Rhaenyra and my father's marriage and as such he and my father were currently on the outs. It wouldn't last of course; this incident was just another turn on the revolving door of the two brothers' endlessly masochistic relationship. Unfortunately, it did mean that I was not entirely welcome at court at the moment, and would likely be cutting my visit to King's Landing shorter than I originally intended. While I was here though, I planned on seeing a woman I had not spoken with in half a decade.
Stopping in front of one of the numerous richly appointed buildings that lined the road, I scanned the sign to ensure I was in the right place. It read The Silken Serpent; this was it. I pushed inside and found myself in a lavish parlor. Men whose clothes spoke of wealth were scattered across half a dozen settees while being tended to by a flock of scantily clad women. Upon my entrance one of the whores, noted me and sashayed in my direction. Dark brown hair fell in waves across bare shoulders and a smirk played at her lips as she looked me up and down. I knew what she saw, an inexperienced lordling barely on the cusp of manhood, they would take me for everything I had if I gave them half a chance.
"And, what can we do for you?" She drawled with the faintest hint of a Stormlander accent.
I fought to keep my eyes on her face rather than the interesting cut of her dress. "I am here to see my mother."
Her brow furrowed in confusion as she gave me another examination. She had undoubtedly noted my short-cropped silver hair and purple eyes when she approached, but such features were not as uncommon as one might think in King's Landing. But, when you took those features together my age and statement, the conclusion was inescapable.
"Your, Lady Myssaria's son." She breathed; eyes wide.
"Indeed, I am…" I trailed off expectantly.
"Thea, my prince." She supplied. "I'll take you to her right away." So, saying she awkwardly turned and began to walk toward the stairway at the back of the room. During the brief journey, she glanced over her shoulder several times, clearly unsure how to interact with me. I caught her eye and gave a reassuring smile.
"Your mother should be in her solar." She explained as we ascended the stairs. Upon reaching the second floor she led me through the narrow corridors, unfortunately not all the doors had been fully shut and I caught glimpses of a few things I could have done without seeing. When we arrived at a closed door, Thea gave three sharp knocks.
"Enter" A familiar voice came through the wood. Thea pushed open the door, before stepping aside to let me enter. I entered the solar and saw a beautiful Valyrian-featured woman in her early thirties seated behind a desk piled high with ledgers.
"Mother" I greeted. A massive grin splitting my face.
"Aelyx" she breathed. Her violet eyes widened in surprise. Surging to her feet, she hurried around the desk and engulfed me in a hug, a gesture I gladly returned. She cupped my face with her hand, looking up at me, and with a jolt, I realized I was now taller than her.
"Oh, my beautiful boy, look how big you've gotten, almost a man grown."
We stepped back, drinking in the sight of one another. It had been five years since I had seen my mother. We had parted on Bloodstone in 115 when my father had taken me to Pentos to meet his new bride. I would later learn that my mother had departed the island just days later, well aware that the king's former paramour would be a tempting target following his de facto abdication.
"And you're as beautiful as I remember mother." She graced me with a soft smile at the compliment, before sinking into one of the two chairs that sat in front of her desk. I took the other.
"Tell me everything, how have been these last few years." She requested.
"I'm sure you already know most of it, we lived in Pentos for a year before we returned to Driftmark."
"And the Velaryons" she cut in. "Did they treat you well?"
"Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys treated me as well as could be expected, the fact that they knew me as heir to the Stepstones before I was their step-grandson probably helped."
"And Lady Laena, I have heard that the two of you are quite close."
I paused, understanding what she was really asking. Leaning, over I took one over her hands in my own. "Laena was very kind to me; she was the mother of sisters and I loved her dearly. But you are my mother and nothing will ever change that." Tension that I hadn't noticed drained from her body, and I quickly sought to change the subject.
"I am certain you heard that I claimed Vhagar."
"I think all of Westeros has heard that news." She informed me. "My son, a dragon rider." There was an undisguised note of triumph in her voice. She had long been bitter about the events surrounding my birth and Viserys' order to return the dragon egg my father had procured for my cradle.
"And you mother, how have you been." I paused unsure how to phrase my question. "Are you..." I trailed off and vaguely waved at the closed door and brothel beyond.
"No," she said, smiling with amusement. "Daemon was quite generous during the course of our relationship. By the time we parted ways I had entire chests of jewels and I will never have to earn a living in that manner again."
"Then why the brothel?"
"Oh, the brothel is but a small part of what I do. From here my reach spreads from the Red Keep to the Gate of the Gods, to Crownlands beyond. One day my network will reach across all of Westeros and the Free Cities. The secrets that pass through these walls bring me more gold in a week than most landed knights will see in a year."
"And the City Watch, they don't give you any trouble?"
"Oh, there are many in the Goldcloaks who still remember your father fondly. I pay a fraction of the normal protection fees and I have entered into profitable business arrangements with several of the captains."
I sighed so my father was a murderous former warlord, while my mother was a madame and information broker with ties to organized crime. I paused as a thought occurred.
"Have you ever considered deepening that relationship? If you put some of the Guard directly on your payroll, you could probably be running the district by the end of the year."
My mother examined me thoughtfully. "You really aren't a child anymore, are you? It is definitely a thought. I normally prefer subtler forms of power, but I cannot deny that ruling the streets has a certain degree of allure." She drummed her fingers thoughtfully.
"Enough, of that though" She dismissed the topic with a flick of her wrist. "How long will you be in King's Landing?"
"I had planned on spending a few moons here, but given the current climate, I believe that I will depart within a sennight."
"Where will you go?"
"I intend, to tour the realm. I'll go south first through the Stormlands, then up through the Reach, Westerlands, and into the North itself, before returning down through the Vale."
"An ambitious journey."
"Vhagar in a day what would take others weeks of travel. I have no lands, no responsibilities, why shouldn't I see the world."
"Indeed, why shouldn't you? But until you leave, I hope you will make time to visit me."
"Of course, mother, we have years to make up for. I intend to spend as much time here as I can." Her face lit up at my response and we spoke until the sun was low in the sky.